AD 2006-07-06

This AD becomes effective on May 11, 2006.

As of May 11, 2006, the Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulation.

To get the service information identified in this AD, contact Cirrus Design Corporation, 4515 Taylor Circle, Duluth, Minnesota 55811; telephone: (218) 727-2737, or on the Internet at http://www.cirrusdesign.com.

To view the AD docket, go to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-001 or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-2005-23023; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-49-AD.

Wess Rouse, Aerospace Engineer, ACE-117C, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Room 107, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone: (847) 294-8113; facsimile: (847) 294-7834.

The FAA has received two reports of fuel line leaks within a compartment in the center console of Model SR22 airplanes. This compartment is drained to the belly of the aircraft. Investigation found that the leaks resulted from wire chafing on the fuel lines.

This condition, if not corrected, could result in unsafe fuel vapor within the cockpit and possible fire.

We issued a proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to certain Cirrus Design Corporation (CDC) Models SR20 and SR22 airplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on December 8, 2005 (70 FR 72945). The NPRM proposed to require you to inspect the fuel line and wire bundles for any chafing damage; replace any damaged fuel line and repair any damaged wires or sheathing of the wire harness if any chafing damage is found; and install the forward loop clamp, fuel line shield, aft loop clamp, and anti-chafe tubing.

We provided the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. The following presents the comment received on the proposal and FAA's response to the comment:

The commenter notes that throughout the NPRM the date of Service Bulletin SB 2X-28-04 R1, Issued: November 1, 2005, Revised: November 8, 2005, should read, “Revised: November 14, 2005.”

The FAA agrees with the commenter. We will change the final rule to include the correct revised date for the service bulletin.

We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for minor editorial corrections. We have determined that these minor corrections:

—Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and

—Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed in the NPRM.

How does the revision to 14 CFR part 39 affect this AD? On July 10, 2002, the FAA published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR 47997, July 22, 2002), which governs the FAA's AD system. This regulation now includes material that relates to altered products, special flight permits, and alternative methods of compliance. This material previously was included in each individual AD. Since this material is included in 14 CFR part 39, we will not include it in future AD actions.

We estimate that this AD affects 2,135 airplanes in the U.S. registry.

We estimate the following costs to do the inspection of the fuel line and wire harness for any chafing damage:

We estimate the following costs to do necessary replacements of any damaged fuel line or repair any damaged wires or sheathing of the wire harness that would be required based on the results of this inspection. We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need these repairs or replacements:

We estimate the following costs to do the installation of the forward loop clamp, fuel line shield, aft loop clamp, and anti-chafe tubing:

Warranty credit for parts and labor costs is referenced in the service bulletin.

Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106 describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the agency's authority.

We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in subtitle VII, part A, subpart III, section 44701, “General requirements.” Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this AD.

We have determined that this AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:

1. Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866;

2. Is not a “significant rule” under the DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and

3. Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD (and other information as included in the Regulatory Evaluation) and placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include “Docket No. FAA-2005-23023; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-49-AD” in your request.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. FAA amends § 39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows: